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INSIDE: Showbiz legend collects a charity award P4

February 9, 2012

VICTORY: St Mary’s shine at finals of

the SSA Division One See Pages 2-3

They’re on the ball: 2011 Dublin Sports Awards Motor Racing: Thompson on a stellar 2011 season in Japan Page 28

SPORTS stars, players and teams were out in force for the Dublin Gazette Newspapers 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, in conjunction with the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and Setanta Sports Ireland, which saw individual and team successes celebrated in style. Pictured are Garrett Marrinan, manager, the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley; Swords Celtic’s Gary Thompson receiving the November Sports Star of the Month, and Rob Heigh, sports editor, Dublin Gazette Newspapers.

Picture: Geraldine Woods

Full Story on Page 29

Sports Awards: Gala celebration of Dublin sport at Clarion Hotel Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ....................10 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Major Blue Flag bid to boost local beach Council says that amenity could be eligible this year

I MIMI MURRAY

COUNCILLORS are calling on Fingal County Council to do all they can to help Malahide achieve a Blue Flag in 2012.

The council said that Malahide beach is compliant with Blue Flag limits for bathing

water quality and could, on that criterion, be eligible for a Blue Flag in 2012.

At a recent Malahide/ Howth area committee meeting, Fine Gael Councillor, Anthony Lavin, asked the council what it was doing to enhance the chances of a positive outcome this summer.

The council said a beach can be eligible for the Blue Flag if it is an officially designated bathing area with at least one sampling point for water analysis. The Blue Flag programme requires that beaches achieve excellent bathing water quality.

Full Story on Page 6

2 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

EVENT: LAURA BRENNAN TRUST

IT’S YOUR STORY Day of mixed emotions for St Mary’s

Fourth annual gala evening THE Laura Brennan Trust is holding its fourth annual gala evening to raise funds for the local charity.

The gala will be held on Saturday, February 11, at the Grand Hotel in Malahide.

Miss Ireland (and granddaughter of Terry Keane) Holly Carpenter, will be the host for the evening.

The annual Gala Evening will have a romantic feel to it this year as it falls on the cusp on Valentine’s Day. There will be plenty of after-dinner entertainment, including music and dancing, as well as an auction and raffle.

The gala begins at 7pm and dinner is served at 8pm The trust was set up in November, 2008, the year of sixteen-year-old Laura Brennan’s death from a fatal illness.

Monument The parents of the Malahide teen were determined to create a fitting monument to their much-loved daughter and, to that end, set up the eponymous charity.

The aims of the charity are all concentrated on children and under 18-year-old teens suffering from debilitating illness in the Malahide area.

Contributions will g o t ow a r d s n u r s i n g care, respite care, treatment costs, counselling services, bereavement counselling and follow-up and transport costs to enable medical treatment to take place where necessary.

The charity also welcomes people who want to get involved in fundraising activities.

If you are interested and want more information on how you can help, please email admin@laurabrennan.org

Supporters, Niamh Leddy, Rebecca Sweeney, Laura Toner and Casey Bruen

Supporters Jodie Coffey and Emma Gordon Blanca Dominguez, Cristina Calvo, Alina Handke and Marta Coll with the Division Shield

First Year supporters determined to support St Mary’s

The U-16 Winning Team: Carla Wickham, Emma Doyle, Nicole Moriarty, Shannon Lowndes, Zoe Johnston, Niamh Crilly,

Amber Farren, Danielle O’Leary and Lauryn Ruane

Kate Mulligan, Ciara Byrne, Captain; Marta Coll, Cristina Calvo, Melissa Corrigan, Alina Handke, Blanca Dominguez

Local Under-16s MONDAY, January 23, saw St Mary’s competing again in the finals of the SSA Division One at both Under-16 and Under-19 level.

The Under-19 team, reigning Champions, had reached the final again and were hoping to defend their crown. The Under-16 team had lost narrowly in the final last year to Skerries Community College.

This year, they were playing Skerries Community College again. They were in determined form and were eagerly looking forward to the re-match.

Both teams were looking to cover themselves in glory.

The Under-19s were first out at 10.45 and a huge roar greeted their appearance on the court.

The team was managed by Lindsey King, a past student of St Mary’s. Lindsey was assisted by Robert Fennell, PE teacher.

The team consisted of the Captain, Danielle Byrne, Leanne Bickerdike, Shauna McCourt, Ciara Richardson, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Amy O’Connor, Sophie Byrne, Niamh O’ Rourke, Emma Mulligan, Michaela Mori-

arty, Niamh Whelan, Emma Maguire and Aisling Gillen.

St Mary’s were cheered on by a very loud, excited, enthusiastic and extremely elated crowd of noisy supporters which included students, past students and large number of parents. The chants of “Lets Go Mary’s, Lets Go” echoed around the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.

Casey Bruen, Aoife Sheridan and Lauren Williams ensured that the supporters remained most vocal throughout both matches ensuring

that the chanting from the supporters of Maryfield College was diminished.

The Under-19s had a most thrilling encounter in their match against Maryfield College. A very determined Maryfield College got off to a flyer in the first quarter leading 5-0 early on, a superb basket by Leanne Bickerdike, pulled it back to 2-5 but good play from breaks saw Maryfield lead 8-2 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw some great defending and attacking play from St Mary’s. Two baskets

from the captain, Leanne Bickerdike and one from Shauna McCourt, saw St Mary’s finish the quarter level, at 8 all.

St Mary’s were beginning to look good and a quick basket by Ciara Richardson at the start of the third quarter saw St Mary’s lead 10-8. Further play and a another score

by Leanne Bickerdike had the score at 12-10 to St Mary’s.

However, a strong finish by Maryfield saw them lead 14-12. The fourth quarter saw St Mary’s equalise with a basket from Lauren Fitzpatrick

and St Mary’s upped their game, playing some excellent basketball but not scoring.

A fast break saw Maryfield go 16-14 ahead and give Maryfield an impetus and three baskets in quick succession pushed Maryfield into a commanding 22-14 lead.

Maryfield then pulled away to win 27-14. There was great disappointment all round for the players, supporters and parents, however, it was a great battling display and well done to both sides.

The spotlight now turned to the Under 16s.

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 3

as they compete in finals of SSA Division One

The victorious U-16 winning team

The U-16s warming up

Alana Barry, Rebecca Dooley and Lauren Cuthbert

Alex Smith, Amy Regan and Rachel Morrissey

Kirsten Nagle and Kerrie Curtis

on the ball

Last year, the Under 16 team very nearly took home the trophy after a pulsating match that was even right until the very end of the game.

They eventually losing out on the narrowest of score lines, 20 points to 18 to Skerries Community College.

Despite the Under-19s defeat, the Under-16s had been improving with each game and were in a confident mood.

The team, managed by Robert Fennell, consisted of captain, Ciara Byrne, Kate Mulligan, Niamh Crilly, Carla Wickham,

Melissa Corrigan, Zoe Johnston, Shannon Lowndes, Emma Doyle, Cristina Calvo, Marta Coll, Blanca Dominguez and Alina Handke.

The chanting from the St Mary’s supporters was a great encouragement to the team who put in a great team effort in the first quarter to lead 5-1 with Kate Mulligan scoring all five points.

St Mary’s continued their fine play and dominated most of the second quarter to lead 15-4. Six points by Kate Mulligan, a fine basket by Melissa Corrigan and an excel-

lent battling point from the very reliable Ciara Byrne ensured St Mary’s were on top.

However, a last minute basket in that quarter by Skerries seemed to go unnoticed.

The third quarter saw three quick baskets by Skerries and the score narrow to 15-10 and St Mary’s did not seem to be as comfortable as they were.

However, a determined and committed performance by Ciara Byrne and a quick basket by Melissa Corrigan saw St Mary’s regain composure to

lead 17-10 going into the final quarter. The fourth quarter and an all round team effort saw St Mary’s move comfortably ahead.

Scores by Kate Mulligan, Carla Wickham, Zoe Johnston saw St Mary’s lead 27-13. The last minute was agonising for both teams, St Mary’s were counting down the seconds and Skerries were putting in a very determined effort.

A last second point (free throw) by Emma Doyle confirmed the score at 28-13. It was a pulsating finale overall,.

Well done everyone!

CHAMBER 8,000 copies of Malahide Directory A TOTAL of 8,000 copies of the 2012 Malahide Directory, published by the Chamber of Commerce, has been circulated to homes in Malahide and Portmarnock.

T hroughout 2012, the chamber will make another 4,000 copies of these directories available to people staying in local hotels and bed and breakfasts. This move is part of the Chamber’s Shop Local campaign in 2012, and they will continue to promote Malahide as a great place to do business, visit and find all the services needed.

The Chamber would like to thank all those businesses who supported the project through advertising, as well as Cathy Dunne of iCatch Design and Marie Locke in the Grand Hotel for co-ordinating the project.

4 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

COURTS 13-month term for man who tried to rob pharmacy

Women fend off drug addict’s attempted robbery A DRUG addict, who was scared off by three women armed with a baseball bat and a steak knife, has been jailed for 13 months for trying to rob their pharmacy.

Karl Fleming (40), of Limetree Avenue, Portmarnock, pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of Tracys Pharmacy, Eden Quay on February 2, 2011.

The court heard how one of the victims grabbed a wooden

bat, while another used a steak knife to scare him.

One of the women then followed him around town until she saw a garda patrol car and asked gardai to arrest him.

Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as a “frightening event”, but commended the three victims for showing a “great degree of fortitude and hardiness”.

He jailed Fleming for 13 months at Dublin Circuit

Criminal Court.

Garda John Quirke told Ms Melanie Greally BL, prosecuting, that Fleming hopped over the shop counter and started waving a screwdriver around and demanding tablets.

Lunged Gda Quirke said that pharmacist, Matilda Allen, had a wooden bat at her disposal and she tried to fend Fleming off. She dropped the bat in fear

when Fleming lunged at her with the screwdriver.

Ms Allen and her co-worker, Peggy Allen, then went into a back room, leaving a third coworker, technician Noreen Bassett, with Fleming.

The court heard that Ms Bassett had been making her lunch and had a steak knife in her hand when she stood up to Fleming.

Fleming lunged towards her, but panicked at the sight of the

knife, and left empty-handed.

Matilda Allen then followed Fleming, keeping him in sight at all times and watching as he turned his jacket inside-out.

Ms Greally said that, through her “intrepid efforts”, Fleming was arrested on nearby Abbey Street after Ms Allen spotted an unmarked garda car and alerted the gardai. Gda Quirke said Ms Allen showed “considerable fortitude”, and she told gardai that she hadn’t

suffered “any ill effects” from the attempted robbery.

Mr Colm O’Briain BL, defending, said his client came from a good family, but has a long-standing drug addiction.

Fleming, who has 39 previous convictions, was serving a four-month suspended sentence for theft, and was remanded to appear before Cloverhill District Court last November, where that term was activated.

€100,000 provided for walk, cycle way I LAURA WEBB malahide@gazettegroup.com

THE allocation of €100,000 to design a segregated pedestrian and cyclist route from Malahide to Donabate has been welcomed.

The pedestrian and cyclist route will join Malahide to Donabate along the western side of the Dublin to Belfast railway line.

Commenting on the funding, Labour TD for Dublin North, Brendan Ryan, said this allocation is a “positive” step towards moving on the project, and added: “I have made a number of representations to both Fingal County Council and various government departments over the last couple of years in support of a dedicated cycle and pedestrian route between Malahide and Donabate.

“I am glad to see that there is movement on this project, with €100,000 allocated from the National Roads Authority to Fingal County Council towards the design of such a route alongside the railway tracks.”

According to Deputy Ryan, there is “great tourism potential” for a walk and cycleway between Malahide and Donabate.

“There are no doubts that such a pathway would provide a wonderful amenity.

“I look forward to seeing the results of the design process,” said Deputy Ryan.

Red Hurley; Betty Wall, Variety Ireland; Linda Martin, Johnny Logan and Dustin The Turkey at the Grand Hotel, Malahide, where Linda was presented with an award

PEOPLE: LINDA MARTIN HONOURED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO IRISH ENTERTAINMENT

Showbiz legend sparkles as she collects a charity award I LAURA WEBB

malahide@gazettegroup.com

THE queen of Eurovision, Linda Martin, was honoured at a charity lunch for her contribution to Irish entertainment, this week.

Children’s charity, Variety Ireland, honoured the singing sensation with the Variety Gold Heart Award for outstanding contribution to Irish entertainment, during a special charity lunch at The Grand Hotel in Malahide

last Sunday.

On receiving the award, Linda said: “I am delighted and honoured to be receiving this award.”

In attendance at the charity lunch were Dustin The Turkey, fellow Eurovision sensation, Johnny Logan; Red Hurley, Sharon Ni Bheolain, Tony Kenny, Joe Cuddy, Pat Egan and Brian Hand.

Proceeds from the charity lunch will go to Variety Ireland, which has spent almost 60 years helping sick, disabled

and disadvantaged children in Ireland.

Award-winning singer, TV personality and reality TV judge, Linda is one of Ireland’s best known entertainers.

Eurovision Song Contest In 1992, she won the Eurovision Song Contest with, Why Me, written especially for her by Johnny Logan.

She has gone on to present TV shows, including RTE’s The Lyrics Board, served on the Popstars panel, was a judge on reality shows such as You’re a

Star, and has starred in many musicals.

Variety Ireland formed in 1952, and has since made a real difference to children’s lives throughout the island of Ireland.

Like many charity organisations, with all the work they do there is just never enough resources to answer every appeal, but, thanks to ongoing and generous support, Variety Ireland has been able to spend almost 60 years helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in Ireland.

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 5

6 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

MOTION Councillor calls for council report on upgrading of cycle facilities

Malahide Demesne cycleway being considered I MIMI MURRAY malahide@gazettegroup.com

NOT allowing cyclists to have their own fun in Malahide Demesne is “unrealistic” and some provision must be made to allow those on two wheels to also use the park.

This is according to Fianna Fail councillor, Eoghan O’Brien who was speaking on a motion tabled by Labour councillor, Peter Coyle at a Malahide/Howth meeting last Wednesday about park bye-laws which currently prohibiting cyclists from using the park.

At present, cycling isn’t allowed in the demesne, but, cars are allowed to drive freely with no fear of being reprimanded.

Cllr O’Brien said he presumed gardai “were not going around looking for people breaking the bye-laws” and added that there should be a

suitable network to allow people cycle as well as walkers having their area as well.

Labour councillor, Cian O’Callaghan told the elected members and the council that he has broken the bye-laws and pedalled through the park unashamedly in the

past.

He added that cars are officially allowed but not bicycles. The council concurred that this is currently the case.

Fine Gael councillor Joan Maher said that in Germany, there are parts of parks designated for cyclists and parts for

pedestrians but if you dared “wander off your designated area you would get a very strident ring of the bell”.

In response to Cllr Coyle’s motion, which asked the council to repor t on plans for upgrading cycle facilities in the demesne and

asked whether there were plans to have separate pedestrian and cycle lanes along the existing pathways, the council said consideration is currently being given to the development of a cycleway through the park as part of a sustainable transport network.

Lease for local bridge club being drawn up A LEASE for Malahide Bridge Club is currently being drawn up by Fingal County Council.

Fianna Fail councillor Eoghan O’Brien, asked the council for an estimated time frame on the lease at a recent Malahide/Howth area committee meeting. The council said the lease would be forwarded to the club’s solicitor “shortly”.

Cllr O’Brien said the word “shortly” could be open to interpretation. He said that he had been contacted by the club president who told him that the club had been at the premises on council-owned land at St Helen’s in Broomfield for a long time with no for-

mal agreement.

“They are anxious to get it sorted and they are running into a brick wall in their discussions with the council.

The sooner they get it sorted the more secure footing there is for the bridge club. We have got to proceed quickly,” he said.

In its response, the council said: “The council are in discussions with the Malahide Bridge Club with a view to formalising a lease in respect of their occupation of council-owned land at St Helen’s, Broomfield.

“The lease is currently being drafted and will be forwarded to the club’s solicitor shortly.”

Promoting Ireland: At the launch of new guide PICTURED at the launch of the 25th edition of the Irelandhotels.com Guide are (l to r) Matthew Ryan, The Grand, Malahide; Ciaran Budds, National Sales Manager On-trade, Diageo Ireland, and Stephen Hanna, The Camden Court, Camden Street. The Guide provides visitors with detailed listings for each hotel and guesthouse, including property highlights, GPS navigation co-ordinates, map references and a wealth of information on local attractions.

Over 200,000 full-colour guides are being distributed across 23 countries, acting as a key marketing vehicle in promoting Irish hotels and guesthouses both at home and abroad.

MALAHIDE BEACH: COUNCIL IS QUIZZED ON EFFORTS

Major effort called for to get Blue Flag COUNCILLORS are calling on Fingal County Council to do all they can so that Malahide might receive a Blue Flag in 2012.

The council said that Malahide beach is compliant with Blue Flag limits for bathing water quality and could, therefore, on that criterion, be eligible for a Blue Flag in 2012.

An application has been submitted and a decision will be made in May/June 2012 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) based on an assessment by An Taisce.

At a recent Malahide/ Howth area committee meeting, Fine Gael Councillor, Anthony Lavin asked the council what it

was doing to enhance the chances of a positive outcome this summer.

The council said a beach can be eligible for the Blue Flag if it is an officially designated bathing area with at least one sampling point for water analysis. The Blue Flag programme requires that beaches achieve excellent bathing water quality. The beach must meet the Guideline Water Quality standards as set out in the Bathing Water Quality Regulations they said.

“They place a stronger focus on the protection of public health, a proactive approach to the management of bathing water quality and greater public

participation. They establish stricter microbiological standards for two new parameters: Intestinal Enterococci and Escherichia Coli, which will be used to classify bathing waters as “poor”, “sufficient”, “good” and “excellent”. The classification of bathing water will be determined, in general, on the basis of a four-year period instead of the monitoring results from a single bathing season. The new regulations will be fully enforced from December 31, 2014.

The period 2011-2013 is termed as the “transition period”.

“The Blue Flag Scheme is a voluntary scheme to identify high-quality bath-

ing water areas, administered in Ireland by An Taisce and at world level by the FEE. “To receive a blue flag, a bathing site, in addition to maintaining a high standard of water quality, must meet specified objectives with regard to the provision of safety services and facilities.

“In 2011, due to a change in the regulations, the parameters for testing were changed. In accordance with the agreed sampling schedule for Malahide, nine samples were collected during the 2011 bathing season and 100% of those were below the limit values for both parameters,” the council said in its report.

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 7

INVITATION TO JOIN THE FINGAL DUBLIN CHAMBER EXPORTING – OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXPORT SERVICES Fingal Dublin Chamber is officially registered by the Department of Trade & Employment and Chambers Ireland to issue and certify export documentation such as Certificates of Origin (EU Certs & Arab-Irish Certs), invoices, company documents and additional documentation.

COMPANY DOCUMENTS, INVOICES AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION The Chamber provides a certification services for all company documents where required.

The Chamber also provides a Notary Public and Apostille service where required.

ON-LINE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM The Chamber provides a secure on-line document certification system through TradeCert. The service is currently used by exporters, shipping agents and Chambers in Ireland and the U.K. to sign, stamp and certify trade documentation using digital signatures. The system is fast, efficient, flexible and easy to use. It ensures compliance and saves time.

For further information on Certs of Origin membership contact Freda Farrell at the Chamber office on 8900977 or email freda@ fingaldublinchamber.ie

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR NEW MEMBERS Fingal Dublin Chamber is the leading and most active network of businesses in the Fingal Dublin Region. In the present tough economic climate, membership of the Chamber is a cost effective investment in your business which provides access to the people, information and resources which now more than ever can help grow business.

• Micro/Sole Trader (1 - 5 Staff) Normal Membership Fee €200.00 per annum Special Introductory Offer - €100.00* • Small Businesses & New Business Start-Ups (1 – 10 Staff) Normal Membership Fee €300.00 per annum Special Introductory Offer - €150.00* • Medium Sized Businesses (10 – 50 Staff) Normal Membership Fee €500.00 per annum Special Introductory Offer - €250.00* • Large Businesses (50 + Staff) Normal Membership Fee €1,000.00 per annum Special Introductory Offer - €500.00* *(VAT is not applicable to Chamber Membership) To avail of this special introductory offer simply contact Freda Farrell on 8900977 or email: Freda@fingaldublinchamber.ie This special value for money offer confers membership of Fingal Dublin Chamber from February to November 2012 when renewal will be offered for a full year’s membership. This offer ends on 30st April 2012.

CHAMBER EVENTS - FEBRUARY

Business After 6 Networking Evening Crowne Plaza Northwood - 2nd February 2012

President Chamber, Siobhan Moore Fingal Mayor, Gerry McGuire Chamber CEO, Tony Lambert

NEXT EVENT

Eileen Timmons, Crowne Plaza Northwood, Pat Cussen, Raddison Blu Dublin Airport, Dee Whelan, Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport

Myles Flood, Limos For less, Eugene Hanies, Haines Fleet Management, Avril Donnelly, Peninsula Business Servcies, Cormac Sarsfield C+G Logistics

Business Breakfast Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, 28th February 2012

Guest Speaker: Dermot O’Leary, Chief Economist, GOODBODY STOCKBROKERS

INVITATION FROM FINGAL DUBLIN CHAMBER PRESIDENT, SIOBHAN MOORE I would like to offer you a personal invitation to join the Fingal Dublin Chamber and be part of the largest business organisation in the area that is committed to putting business first. For many businesses, Chamber membership is critical to their success and can be an enormous benefit, especially in this difficult economic climate.

This year is a new beginning for Fingal Dublin Chamber and our Members. The historic and groundbreaking coming together of the Fingal Dublin Chamber and the D15 Chamber in the past year has created a stronger and more sustainable Regional Chamber.

To me personally, what is always important is what is best for Chamber Members and their businesses. I believe that the new regional Chamber with strong local representation, providing better and highly valued services is ideal for businesses who want to increase their footprint across a wider area.

The Chamber is constantly developing new strategies and policies aimed at increasing the value of the Chamber to Members and also improving the level of services including more frequent networking events in different locations throughout the larger Chamber area.

In the coming year the Chamber will be organising monthly Business After 6 Networking Evenings and monthly Business Breakfasts as well as many other opportunities for business men and women to meet and network with their colleagues from other businesses and to be briefed on important topical issues.

Our next event is a Chamber Business Breakfast on Tuesday 28th February with Dermot O’Leary, Chief Economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers in the Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport. Other speakers include Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sports, Leo Varadkar T.D. on Thursday, 26th April.

The Chamber Directory & Yearbook will be out in May this year. This is a quality publication and is always well received throughout the business community. All Chamber Members will be listed free of charge in the Directory.

Should you require any further information on the work of the Chamber please feel free to contact the Chamber Chief Executive, Tony Lambert on 8900977 or email him on tony@fingaldublinchamber.ie I look forward to welcoming you to our events during the year which will be spread throughout the Fingal Region.

Best regards

______________________________________ Siobhan Moore President

For more information please contact Fingal Dublin Chamber, Chamber Building, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin Phone: 01 8900977 Email: info@fingaldublinchamber.ie Website: www.fingaldublinchamber.ie

8 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

COURTS 200 hours community service for reformed alcoholic

Man sent threatening messages to his friend A REFORMED alcoholic who started sending his friend threatening text messages, has been ordered to do community service.

David Rogers sent his friend, Paul Kelly, threatening text messages stating that he was “going to get him”.

“You are going to pay. I have my mind set on you like a target,” he told Mr Kelly after he did not show up to meet him for a drink

RIP brave little Mia Keane THE Malahide Gazette would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of brave little Mia Keane, who sadly lost her battle with Wilms tumour this week. The whole community of Malahide has been greatly saddened by the loss of the eight-year-old, who had long battled with her disease.

She died peacefully at home last Saturday, surrounded by her family, including her parents, Maire, Brian and Dave, and her sister Ali, as well as her grandad Eamon, grandad Fredi and grandad Martin, nana Laura, nana Ann, aunts Minnie, Jenjen, uncles Buddy, Ed and Kev, cousins, relatives and friends.

Brave Mia’s funeral took place on February 7, and she was laid to rest in Fingal Cemetery.

Donations, if desired, can be made to the Jack Murphy Foundation, Bank of Ireland, Sort code 900703, A/C No. 92198471.

one night over the Christmas period of 2009.

Rogers also scraped the word “Slut” onto the bonnet of Mr Kelly’s friend, Ms Fiona Butler Kinsella’s car and slashed the four tyres.

Rogers, of Priory Hall in Coolock, but currently residing at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sending threatening text messages to Mr Kelly by

phone on April 18, 2010.

The 38-year-old is also charged with damaging four car tyres belonging to Ms Butler Kinsella between March 1, 2010 and March 2, 2010 at Castleheath in Malahide.

Judge Martin Nolan said Rogers “got revenge with a good deal of irrationality” and noted he “was in the throes of an alcohol problem”.

The court heard Rogers has managed to stay drink-free

over the Christmas despite his condition and being forced to leave the Priory Hall because it was found to be a fire hazard.

Judge Nolan imposed a two-year sentence, which he suspended in full on condition Rogers completes 200 hours of community service.

Garda Killian Lydon told Ms Roisin Lacey BL, prosecuting, that Rogers had planned to meet Mr Kelly

for a drink one night but Mr Kelly met Ms Butler Kinsella instead.

“Rogers became annoyed at this as he had given up the opportunity to see his son and felt he had been let down by Mr Kelly,” said Gda Lydon.

Rogers sent messages including: “I am going to get you big time. I have to get you, it’s in my head to get you” and “watch out, I haven’t started

yet with her (Ms Butler Kinsella), let the games begin. It’s you I want to get.”

Rogers told gardai that he sent the messages in annoyance and that he was “sending the messages without meaning”.

“It was to frighten him,” he said.

Mr Le Vert said Rogers had €1,000 lodged in an account to pay to the injured parties as compensation.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, and Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Gerry McGuire, unveiled a stone plaque to mark the beginning of construction works

PROJECT: MAYOR AND MINISTER OFFICIALLY MARK START OF €10 MILLION WORKS

Malahide Castle and Gardens redevelopment underway I MIMI MURRAY

malahide@gazettegroup.com

THE start of the new €10 million Malahide Castle and Gardens Redevelopment Project was officially marked by the Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Gerry McGuire, and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD last week.

A stone plaque was unveiled and a tree planting ceremony took place to symbolise the beginning of construction works, and anticipated future growth in visitor numbers to the Castle, gardens and parkland.

This €10 million rede-

velopment project is jointly funded by Fingal County Council (€6.25million) and Failte Ireland (€3.75million) and is currently the council’s largest investment project, and one of the largest tourism investment initiatives in the country.

Up to 100 jobs are supported in the construction phase and an additional 80 jobs will be provided in a new restaurant while a new operator for the tourism facilities, which will be appointed shortly, will provide further employment opportunities in the near future.

The new-look Malahide Castle and Gardens

will be re-opened to the public in June 2012, and visitors can look forward to enhanced tourist facilities, including a new castle tour, the unique walled Talbot Botanical Gardens, extensive parkland and playground. Avoca will be operating the cafe and retail offerings on site.

Speaking at the ceremony, Fingal Count y m a n a g e r, D av i d O’Connor said: “Today shows that local authorities can lead large tourism development projects and be a catalyst for economic development and job creation. Innovative use of publicly-owned land and buildings can bring a

huge economic dividend to local areas and provide significant value for money to the taxpayer.”

He added: “Creating employment opportunities and economic activity in Fingal is the number one priority, and a new and better Malahide Castle and Gardens will be the result of action taken by the council to meet that need.”

Minister Varadkar said: “This is a great development which will significantly enhance the existing tourism facilities in Malahide Castle and Gardens, and which is expected to attract 250,000 visitors per year. I very much

welcome the job creation aspect. I understand it includes 100 jobs during the construction phase, and an additional 80 jobs at Avoca. A new operator for the tourism facilities will provide further job opportunities. This Government will continue to support capital investment in tourism in order to create jobs, remain competitive and attract more visitors from overseas.”

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr.

Gerry McGuire said: “The new Malahide Castle and Gardens will cater for in excess of a quarter of a million visitors to the Demesne each year,

both overseas and Irish tourists, as well as many locals from Malahide and surrounding areas who avail of this marvellous heritage facility on their doorstep.”

The Mayor thanked all those present for their support in getting this project underway and gave particular mention to the interdepartmental project team from Fingal County Council.

He also thanked Failte Ireland for the funding they are providing to the redevelopment, and the Minister for his support for this project, and finally thanked the local community.

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9

10 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

EVENT Showcase 2012, Ireland’s unique Creative Expo

Greg Whelan and Marie-Claire Whelan, Irish Linen House, and Oisin Geoghegan, chief executive, Fingal County Enterprise Board

Talent on show

HERE was plenty of local talented crafts people showing their work at the recent Showcase Expo in the RDS, as chief executive of Fingal County Enterprise Board, Oisin Geoghegan found when he attended. Oisin had a particular interest in being there as Fingal County Enterprise Board were supporting the event. Showcase, Ireland’s Creative Expo, is now the foremost place to discover unique, design-led fashion and knitwear, jewellery, craft, gift and interiors, finds you won’t unearth at any other international show. Now in its 36th year, the show has gone back to its roots - celebrating the essence of Ireland. Inspired by our landscape and heritage, 350 of the country’s leading designers, manufacturers and crafts people pay homage to our heritage.

T

Oisin with Michael Fahy, Privatmark Ltd

Oisin and Catherine Dunne, Irish Greeting Cards by Catherine Dunne

Oisin Geoghegan and Christina Brosnan, Christina Brosnan Jewellery

Maura O’Rourke, O’Rourke Art and Design and Oisin

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 11

GazetteFITNESS FITNESS

Brought to you by Derry Temple personal trainer and pilates instructor

TRANSFORMATION: POSITIVE THINKING CAN HELP TRANSFORM YOUR BODY FOR THE BETTER

Prepare for success with nutrition and training OOKING at transforming your body for the better?

There are three key elements within your control that will determine a successful transformation.

It is not the purpose of the transformation that matters; it can be focused on any goal, such as weight loss, muscle gain, improved body shape, or improved spor ts per formance.

What really counts are the three vital elements that are essential if your goal is to physically improve oneself. These three elements are the quality of your thoughts, your fuel (nutrition) and your training.

Vital to the success of these three components is being prepared. Fail to prepare then prepare to fail.

But when you successfully prepare, you can prepare for success. This principle of preparation is at the core of all body transformations.

First you should

L

ensure that your mental state is rock solid and you are ready for the road to transformation.

With this foundation of a strong and positive mental outlook your chances of success increase significantly. Set clear goals and use positive affirmations and visualisations to help you achieve them. As all transformation experts agree “the power of the positive mind is exponential”.

The importance of what you consume should not be underestimated. There are many misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet. However, all agree that what you fuel your body with is of the utmost importance.

You cannot run a petrol car on diesel. The same principle applies to your body. If you fuel your body with the wrong foods you can expect your body to perform poorly. Prepare for success by being aware of the foods you eat. The importance of Omega

3,6 and 9, saturated and trans fats, and realise how they affect your body.

Understand the role of protein in the body and of issues such as acid and calcium balance and how they effect bone health. Recognise food allergies, toxins, stimulants and sugar and how these affect your body in a negative way. Whether you want to detoxify, rejuvenate, shed body fat or slow down the ageing process, it is vital to learn the role of nutrition so you can make food work for you.

If you are training, ensure your choice of exercise is the one best suited to your goal. If you are training for fat loss, and concentrating on cardio, then you are missing out on all the benefits of using resistance training to help you shed body fat.

If you are in a sport that requires a lot of power then you should be training to build the explosive strength required.

Educate yourself about

The three vital elements essential to physically improve oneself are the quality of your thoughts, your fuel (nutrition) and your training

the training process and choose the right training package from the beginning.

Remember, to achieve your body transformation goal, it is when you successfully prepare, that you prepare for success.

Know how training, food and mindset will affect your goal and help you achieve it.

Temple Training begins a new lifestyle and nutri-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘The importance of what you consume should not be underestimated. There are many misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tion workshop in February. This “Complete Lifestyle System” will empower you to “attain a lean body, healthy mind and an abundance of

energy for life”.

A lifestyle and nutrition course begins on Tuesday, February 21, at 8pm in the Le Cheile Community Centre,

Donnycarney. Gazette readers receive a discounted rate of €140 for the seven-week course (usually €165). Visit us www.templetraining.ie

12 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

Gazette Contacts

THEATRE Farrell’s play back at the Abbey

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com

Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com

Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com

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Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com

Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com

Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com

Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette.

The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

Phelim Drew and Marion O’Dwyer star in Bookworms

Popular play makes a return I BAIRBRE NI

BHRAONAIN

THE Abbey T heatre sees the return of Bookworms, by Bernard Farrell, on Thursday, February 9.

It is back by popular demand and was first premiered at the Abbey in 2010.

The Abbey has a new, life-extending policy regarding plays it has commissioned for itself.

Previous revivals include The Seafarrer, by Conor McPherson; Terminus, by Mark O’Rowe, and The Playboy of the

Western World, in a new version, by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle.

To that end Bookworms is back for a fiveweek run.

Bookworms is Bernard Farrell’s 21st play and is described as “a laugh-a-minute romp”.

The Abbey has a long history and very strong relationship with the playwright stretching back to 1982 when the Abbey first produced his play, I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell.

Subsequent to this, the national theatre has staged 11 world

premieres of this Irish playwright’s work.

T hose involved in the current production are no strangers to the Abbey.

Jim Culleton, of Fishamble, directs the cast of the New Play Company and Donna Dent.

The story of Bookworms is set on the night of a monthly book club meeting.

T he hostess, however, proceeds to set her sights on expanding the experience by inviting all of the members’ husbands. Her dreams

of perfection, classical debate and elegant canape nibbling are soon annihilated as the personal lives of the couples are exposed.

What transpires is an unravelling of decorum more shocking and revelatory than any novel up for possible discussion.

Jim Culleton does a great job by giving such a cleverly, humorous play the deft treatment it deserves. The cast includes Donna Dent, Liz Fitzgibbon, Louis Lovett, Michael Glen Murphy and Marion O’Dwyer.

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 13

CHARITY: CALL FOR ANY UNWANTED INSTRUMENTS

CHILDREN

Call for Texaco artists

Give kids a musical goal THE Musical Youth Foundation children’s charity is asking people to help it in its mission to provide every child on the island of Ireland with access to a musical education by donating any old, unused or even damaged musical instruments they have.

As part of a new project designed to raise awareness for the life-changing benefits of music education, and the work the Musical Youth Foundation is doing, the charity hopes people will dig out old, unused, or even broken, instruments that are cluttering up attics, garages and other storage spaces in order to donate them to the charity.

The charity’s founder and CEO, Chris Maher, says: “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of old, unused and unwanted instruments all over the country, and we’re ask-

ing people to help us give every child on the island of Ireland the opportunity to access music education by supporting our call for instruments.”

He said: “We promise to find new homes for all instruments donated, and everyone who donates will be invited to a special, topsecret event taking place as part of the sixth annual Dublin City Soul Festival, from May 24-27.”

Musical Youth Foundation provides instruments, weekly tuition, practise sessions and supporting workshops in live performance, including singing and songwriting as part of its “guitars for kids” programme, which is running in local community centres and schools in Dublin.

If you have an instrument that you would like to donate, email saoirse@ soul.ie.

Turn to them: People in Dublin the largest group availing of a mental support website THEIR cardboard model laptop is only of

use for publicising their service, but, luckily, the online mental health support offered by brothers Oisin and Diarmuid Scollard, and their website, Turn2Me.org, is a much sturdier affair, helping to support thousands of people across Ireland with its services.

The Scollards were promoting the significant increase in the number of users on their site over the past six months, with its latest user figures revealing that membership of Turn2me has increased by 51% over the past

six months – the site now has 3,000 unique visits per month – which includes almost 29,000 visits to the website from Dublin in 2011, comprising the greatest proportion of users visiting the site.

The Turn2me website is staffed by 30 moderators, who comprise a mix of people with professional psychology training, and others who bring the benefit of their life experience, with visitors to the website able to access support forums, group support, one-to-one counselling, and a wide range of information.

THE search is under way to find the young students who will win awards in this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition, in this, the 38th year of the contest.

Brochures setting out details of the competition have been sent to all primary and second-level schools throughout Co Dublin, with the closing date for entries Friday, February 24.

Copies of the brochure are also available through Texaco service stations, and online at www.texacochildrensart.com.

Judging will take place throughout March, and winners will be announced in mid-April, with prize-giving to follow in mid-May. Annually, some 30,000 students compete for the 161 top prizes awarded across seven age categories, including one exclusively devoted to special needs students.

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CALL US NOW ON 60 10 240

14 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Beauty is at the heart of it all at Karora GIVE more heart this month by being mindful of how your tanning regime can help the Irish Heart Foundation. Irish beauty brand, Karora, is donating €2 to the Irish Heart Foundation from every product sold during February. Shop online at www.karoracosmetics.com or find the product in McCabes Pharmacy Dundrum, Unicare pharmacies and select salons nationwide. For participating salons and pharmacies supporting the IHF campaign call 01-9022333

A smoky, sultry look for Valentine’s I LAURA WEBB

IT only comes around once a year, and even though many think l’amour has been overshadowed by cheesy cards and overpriced flowers, it still hasn’t stopped us from wanting to look our best on Cupid’s busy day.

Be on trend this February and get the best Valentine’s Day look, courtesy of Avon’s limited addition Smoke and Mirrors collection. The fresh tones of this collection radiate that new inlove glow that many feel

around this time of year.

Not only will this look get you through Valentine’s Day, but it’s going to big this Spring/Summer season.

“Smouldering greys and subtle apricots are big news this season.

Make a smoky eye in dusky-skied tones your secret weapon, to take your look from sunrise to sunset in just a stroke and a smudge,” commented Liz Pugh, Avon’s professional make-up artist.

To achieve the spring look this February use SuperShock gel eyeliner (€8). This super-soft for-

mula is Avon’s best selling gel eyeliner and is available in two limited edition spring-inspired shades – Blackberry and Golden Fawn. The gorgeous tones leave an intense colour finish that lasts all day.

Use Avon’s True Colour limited edition Smoke and Mirrors and Myster y Eyeshadow Quad (€11) to create a smouldering, smoky eye.

Pucker up for the Valentine’s Day kiss with help from Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick (€9). The fresh, spring look is floral-inspired with hues of apricot, nude and lilac making lips naturally pretty. This lipstick contains jojoba and vitamin

Avon’s limited addition Smoke and Mirrors collection

E leaving lips feeling fully hydrated and moisturised.

Nails should also be treated with care by using Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel (€8), available in Star and Apricot Mystery. Giving salon quality results, this nail varnish

lasts for up to 10 days, with its fortified acrylic for strength and protection, and high-gloss formula.

More information about Avon can be found at www.avon.ie. Visit Avon Ireland’s Facebook page at www.facebook.

com/Avonie. Avon product lines include Avon make-up, Avon fragrance, ANEW skincare, Skin So Soft and Advance Techniques. Avon also sells an extensive range of wellbeing products, jewellery, lingerie, accessories and gifts.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

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9 February 2012 GAZETTE 15

16 GAZETTE 9 February 2011

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: LACK OF EXERCISE CAN CAUSE STUNTED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Best care for your pocket-sized pets HANDBAG dogs, the once must-have accessory for many a fickle, fake tanned, gel-nailwearing celebrity are becoming so last season dahling, it now appears many of Ireland’s fashionistas, like the rest of Europe, are bucking the trend, aping the likes of Paris Hilton and ditching the pocket-sized pooches in favour of, oh, well, who cares. The point is, these dogs are being dumped.

That means animal shelters like the Dublin SPCA are being left to pick up the pieces… literally. I wonder, does Ms Hilton et al, realise they’re fuelling this phenomenon? If so, would they care?

Once seen donning dia-

mond-studded style collars and little pink sweaters, these cutsie-pie dogs are no longer the canine companion of choice for Ladies who Launch.

No more the favourite novelty accessory for almost anyone who owns a fake Dolce and Gabbana or Gucci handbag or, sorry, dog carrier, the brutal irony of it all is these poor animals look and smell like dogs but don’t act like dogs because they, er, don’t know that they actually are dogs.

Let me explain.

Tea-cup dogs come into the rescue shelter not knowing how to walk, act or behave like a dog, in short, they’re lacking in doggy skills.

Sure who could blame the poor things; they’ve

Chihuahua

spent their lives sitting in handbags or sleeping on sofas, never having been walked or trained or fed an appropriate diet, or even been given the basic veterinary care they deserve.

Did you know that lack of exercise can cause stunted growth and devel-

opment in your dog and mollycoddling them too much can result in behavioural problems?

Every week I come into contact with pet parents who’ve paid hundreds for these throwaway, novelty pets only to complain when they’ve to cough up the meagre, highly afford-

able cost for their subsidised veterinary care; or who baulk at the thought of walking, socialising or training them.

So why is this happening?

Well, it’s a question of economics you see – a supply and demand situation.

Not by reputable, registered breeders I hasten to add, they are not the cause of this problem, but by back street puppy farmers and the people who do business with them.

I am certain that if these people were aware of the facts then surely they wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole.

Then again, maybe I’m wrong, I mean one lady told me, (as I stood in my

Dublin SPCA uniform) that she got rid of her dog because she had re-decorated the house and the animal didn’t fit in with her colour scheme.

So, for those of you who’ve bought a tea-cup dog, here’s a few basic tips in order to provide them with the best possible care, specific to their breeds’ needs.

• Exercise every day.

This breed has quick bursts of energy so short walks are best.

• Provide a diet specific for her breed. Consult your vet for advice.

• Socialise early with children and other dogs.

• Use a body harness rather than a lead to protect their delicate neck. It will also help to prevent damage to the trachea

and soft palate.

• Pet her often; this breed needs lots of attention.

• When bathing take care not to get water in her ears, this can cause infections. Brush long-haired Chihuahuas daily.

• This breed may suffer from the following: Weak knees, colds, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma • Check with your breeder to see what/ if at all any, screening has been carried out for these health problems.

A good breeder will not mind you asking this question.

For more

information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me miriam.kerins@dspca.ie

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC ROCK REPORT: FAMILIAR NAMES ARE COMING BACK

New year, old talents I DEE WOODS

HAPPY Chinese New Year! So 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, and it’s breathing new life into some classic artists.

Van Halen and Bruce Springsteen have new albums, and we can also look forward to new music from Alice In Chains, AC/DC and Meatloaf, to name but a few.

In suppor t of the wo r l d w i d e O c c u p y movement, keep an eye out for the “Occupy This” album. A host of famous voc al i sts, i ncl u d i ng David Crosby, Graham Nash and Debbie Harry, are joining together to put the movement on the map.

New music is always good, but I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the bands we thought we’d never see again (well, almost).

The Aussie Pink Floyd play the Olympia at the end of this month, and if you think cover bands

are just well-dressed karaoke singers, did you know Pink Floyd frontman Dave Gilmour asked Aussie Pink Floyd to play his wedding?

Not only that, but Nick Mason said the cover band were “probably better than we were”?

Nuff said!

And if you’re excited about The Doors’ last --------------------------

‘New music is always good, but I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the bands we thought we’d never see again’ --------------------------

album, LA Woman, being reissued for its 40th anniversary this year, then get along to The Doors Alive at The Academy in March.

The lads called into the Nova studios when

Super-news as Dublin radio goes super-Nova DUBLIN-based broadcaster Radio Nova has surged ahead in the latest JNLR radio ratings, passing out some of its major competitors in key demographics for the first time.

The latest ratings show that the station has consolidated an 11% weekly and 6% daily reach in the Greater Dublin area after only 16 months on air.

CEO, Kevin Branigan, said: “We’ve now overtaken major competitors 2FM, Today FM, 98FM and Q102 in key demographics in the city, and we now have more than half the daily audience of 98FM. This is our fifth JNLR survey since we launched and it is by far our best yet; we’ve shown strong continued growth in our 25-54 demographic.

“In addition to major gains in ABC1s and Housekeepers, we have passed out 2FM in 25-34s, Q102 in 25-34s and Today FM in 15-34s daily in Dublin – a terrific result for a radio station that has been on air less than 18 months.

“Nova offers a unique mix of some of the best guitar songs every made and well-known on-air personalities - and, judging from these figures, we are clearly striking a chord with listeners in Dublin and the commuter belt,” said Branigan.

they played the Academy last year. Lead singer, Willie, is a lovely, sof t-spoken Scottish lad who turns into a leather pants-wearing sex god (aka Jim Morrison) when on stage, and sounds uncannily like him too!

I can’t wait to check out these bands, if only to be reminded of the good old days...you know – when if you were reading about a worldwide economic disaster, a crash or a bond you were probably holding an Ian Fleming novel!

The Australian Pink Floyd are bringing their amazing show to the Olympia

18 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs GET MORE FUN AND VALUE WITH THE MAZDA2: EVERYBODY needs a little more fun in their lives, but we recognise the need for more value, too. The good news for drivers is that Mazda is helping their customers out with making the Mazda2 incredibly easy to afford.

During February and March, Mazda is offering the Mazda2 from only €13,495.

The Mazda2 represents some of the best value for money in the segment, in terms of low retail price and generous levels of standard equipment.

In addition, Mazda Ireland is running a promotion where one lucky customer who purchases a new Mazda during February and March will win the retail price of their car back in cash.

Mazda is also offering low-rate finance of just 5.9% with a low deposit of only 20% up to a period of four years through Mazda Finance.

From its launch, the Mazda2 has been ground-breaking. It set the benchmark for lightweight construction, helping the Mazda2 to scoop the World Car of the Year award. Less weight means more fun, with a supple chassis that will put a smile on any driver’s face.

In Ireland, the best-selling Mazda2 Sensu model now costs only €14,995.

Standard equipment includes 15” alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather steering wheel and gear knob, and side and curtain airbags.

Mercedes-Benz main dealer, Chris Germaine, from Grange Motors, Deansgrange, pictured giving thumbs up to the new Mercedes-Benz B-Class which has just arrived on the Irish market

Quantum leap for B-Class I CORMAC CURTIS

Motoring Correspondent

MERCEDES have begun their roll-out of three new models being introduced in 2012, and the new B-Class can now be seen at Irish dealer showrooms.

The new M-Class and SL follow in March/April, but the B-Class is the larger of their two compact models, fitting into the range ahead of the wellknown A-Class.

Said to represent “a quantum leap” in the compact class given its billing as the first model change in their history

to have so many new features introduced at one time, it comes on the market with a vastly improved range of standard specifications and an entry-level price that Mercedes-Benz says is 11% lower than the model it replaces.

Amongst its most striking aspects are its reduced height, lower centre of gravity, generous interior space and high standard of safety. Its redesigned electromechanical steering, new four-link rear axle and upgraded electronic stability system make it, what MercedesBenz says is, “fascinatingly agile” without cost

in comfort terms.

Arguably, its most impressive selling point and the feature most likely to appeal to potential B-Class buyers will be its high quality and spacious interior. Seats are more upright and set lower to the road with the result that headroom has been improved. Its extra interior spaciousness can be made more valuable by an optional feature that allows the rear seats to be adjusted forwards/backwards to facilitate the carriage of bulky items.

In its driving and handling characteristics, the

new B-Class outshines its predecessor. An optional lower sports suspension and direct-steer system emphasise its sporty character. Outstanding aerodynamics help to deliver low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, while a standard item on all B-Class models is an ECO start/ stop function.

In Ireland, the model likely to account for the bulk of B-Class sales is the 109bhp entry-level B180 CDI which comes on the market at €29,330 (ex works) with road tax of €160 per annum. A second diesel, also with four-

cylinder, common rail, direct-injection, is a 2.0litre/136bhp unit whose price will be announced later.

In petrol form, the first version to go on sale is the 122bhp B180BlueEFFICIENCY selling at €29,890 (ex works) with road tax of €225 per annum. A 2.0litre/156bhp BlueEFFICIENCY version will be added to the range at a later date, the price of which will be announced at the time.

Driving the new B-Class is a completely new six-speed manual transmission, notable for

its extremely easy gear change and low shift forces. Also available as an option is a 7G dual-clutch transmission system that combines the comfort of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual.

Described by their sales manager, Ciaran Allen, as a car that “ticks all the boxes”, its lower price, reduced running costs, interior spaciousness and exceptional range of comfort and safety features are elements he believes come together to give the B-Class a wide appeal amongst those seeking to match prestige to practicality.

Is parallel parking more stressful than going to the dentist?

It’s arguably the most frustrating part of the driving experience, parallel parking, and it has the potential to drive even the most level-headed motorist around the bend.

Enter Ford’s Active Park Assist. With more than 100,000 cars having been ordered with this feature, the appetite for this kind of technology speaks for

itself.

Ford has now tripled production levels for the technology, which calculates the optimal steering angle and quickly steers the vehicle hands-free into a parking spot.

“Ford Active Park Assist takes all the stress out of parking,” said Ford engineer Kay Müller. “At the touch of a button, it

enables you to park in the smallest of spaces, while at the same time reducing the risk of accidental damage to your vehicle and those surrounding it.”

A total of 102,460 European customers have specified Active Park Assist since it was introduced on the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX at the end of 2010, with one-in-three buyers speci-

fying it on those cars alone. A further one-in-five have ordered it on the new Ford Focus, which went on sale last year.

A third of European drivers surveyed

by Ford last year said they struggled to parallel park. Many confessed to finding it more stressful than a trip to the dentist.

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 19

Gazetteh Valentines

20 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

RETAIL: AVOID ANY HEARTACHE OVER THE SPECIAL DAY’S COST

You could share a romantic movie treat at Brooks

Share a romantic film stay at Brooks Hotel BROOKS Hotel in the heart of Dublin has a range of Valentine offers for couples – with its romantic movie offering in the Drury Street hotel’s 26-seater private cinema just one of a number of notable features at the hotel.

This is just one feature of a number of special Valentine packages, with others including such delights as a range of overnight and two-night packages that include the chefs’ signature chocolate treats and Prosecco on arrival, a complimentary room upgrade, a rose petal bed, and dinner in Francesca’s restaurant.

However, the cinema feature stands out as a special Valentine’s treat, and is exclusive to diners on Valentine’s night, with the movie a complimentary treat for the first 26 guest bookings – and with dinner and the cinema available for €39.95 per person. For further details, and package info, see www.brookshotel.ie, or phone 01 670 4000.

Bake to your heart’s content with M&S IT’S said that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, with Marks & Spencer taking this advice to prepare a range of offers that won’t bust the budget, and let you bake to your heart’s content.

The M&S range of Valentine’s wares are too tempting to pass up, providing some wonderful ways to help cook up a delicious treat for your loved one (or even for yourself).

12 Mini Heart Silicone

Le Creuset Heart

Cases, €7

Casserole dish, €47.50

Heart Springform Cake Pan, €10

Hearts Mixing Bowl, €27

Get a Lidl bit of help for a wonderful time LIDL has been busy preparing for St Valentine’s Day with a wide range of special offers, all designed to complement the special mood, but without any heartbreaking cost.

Whether preparing for an unforgettable homecooked meal, or looking for the perfect gift to show you care, Lidl stores are stocking up with just what you need.

For starters, look no further than Lidl for flowers, with its luxury deluxe grand prix roses. Sourced from Westland, in south Holland, which is famous for its greenhouses and mastery of all floral horticultural skills, the deluxe grand prix roses sport large flower heads and are, say Lidl, typically the heaviest and highestquality Dutch roses available on the market.

Howe ve r, t h e s e delightful roses are just part of Lidl’s Valentine

range, with other flowers including valentine tulips, luxury oriental lillies, luxury bouquets, the classic arrangement of a dozen red roses and, from Saturday, February 11, a single red rose, with prices starting from €2.99.

Celebrate the romance of the day with a sparkling champagne, with Lidl’s Comte de Brismand Champagne Brut, available for €12.99 (Super Saturday offer on Saturday, February 11). A special pink Caca – the Freixenet Cava Brut Rose – is available for €9.99.

With chocolate proving a delicious partner for champagne, make a perfect match with Lidl’s luxury brand, JD Gross, and Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells for €1.49 (also on Saturday, February 11).

Looking to sniff out a special offer? Lidl’s scentsational fragrance, Sud-

Roz Purcell and Kevin McLaughlin fill up with

denly Madame Glamour, with citrus and floral notes incorporating bergamot and jasmine, has topped blind tests carried out on the Tom Dunne Show, Newstalk and Ray D’Arcy Show, Today FM – with this remarkable level of quality available at just €3.49.

Other gifts include Valentine’s wrapping paper,

Lidl’s wares before February 14

for €1.49; heart- and roseshaped baking moulds, for €4.99; a satin negligee, for €5.99, and Valentine’s stay-up tights, for €2.99.

Last, but not least, bone up on your cooking skills with a delicious steak, with all the ingredients for a simple, yet delicious, deluxe Angus striploin steak recipe, with wilted spinach and a porcini

mushroom and garlic cream sauce, and with all ingredients available from your local Lidl store to provide a restaurantquality meal for under €24.

For these, and other special Lidl Valentine’s in-store offers, see www. lidl.ie, www.facebook. com/lidlireland or visit your nearest Lidl store.

PAMPERING: MAKE-UP TREATS TO LOOK YOUR BEST

Star treatment at LA Academy “ROSES are red, and violets are blue. Come to LA Make-Up Academy, and we will look after you!”

So says the well-known leading make-up academy, based on Chatham Street, Dublin 2, which is busy preparing for Cupid’s arrival with a range of lovely offers.

For this Valentine’s Day, ladies are invited to give themselves the pampering they deserve, with the academy marrying all of Cupid’s ideas of love to create unique packages that are designed to cater for all Valentines needs.

LA Academy’s “Love to Me” Valentine’s packages includes everything a girl could desire, such as rouge-red lips, sultry

eyes and luscious locks to make their Valentine’s Day perfect.

All of these pampering packages to look your best come with five-star treatment, such as sipping on a glass of bubbly and availing of delicious nibbles in the LA lounge, in preparation for an unforgettable experience.

Packages A number of packages and options are on offer, such as the Love To Me package, preparing you for your big night out with sultry eyes and lashes to flutter, coupled with devilishly red lips, for €35.

Alternatively, T he

Secret Sweetheart package, featues smouldering smoky eyes with individual or strip lashes and a luxurious pout.

And, for an unforgettable entrance, you could go for bouncy, waved Brigitte Bardot-style hair, for just €45.

These glamorous offers are for anyone who is dear to you, or would be ideal as a treat for yourself – after all, you deserve it, and you deserve the LA Make-Up Academy five-star treatment.

For further information, contact LA MakeUp Academy on 01 675 1999, or visit w w w. lamakeupacademy.com.

LA Academy has some special Valentine packages to draw you in, including sultry eyes and luscious locks

9 February 2012 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Mark McGarvey, of cheapstorage.ie

Cheap storage with priceless service

years left, that’s SAVING € 40,000 a year! While property bargains currently abound, there is enormous hassle from finding tenants, continuous repairs, rent reduction requests and slow payments. Add the fact that interest rates eventually can only go one way – UP. Do you really want this hassle? You can earn 5.04% gross each year by just placing it on deposit… hassle-free. Also, one lender would deduct € 36,000 from your annual income to fund your family needs – that leaves € 4,000 income availability which will get you a loan of precisely € 18,000. That’s an expensive doll house ! That € 40,000 will act as a handy Rainy Day Fund – my recommendation is that you should have at least three to six months annual income in a RDF for emergencies, sudden loss of income or that investment opportunity.

The Money Doctor’s Tip of the Week BUDGETING

Mark McGarvey, of cheapstorage.ie

on business development and management end of things.

yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: I think one of my best traits,

Q: Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Starting up business during

Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: The National, Bruce Spring-

the height of the recession was difficult and there were times when I was worried, but, with hard work and dedication, we got our name out there and business is now booming.

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: A variety of Irish businesses.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Having the opportunity to develop my own ideas and the ability to challenge myself daily.

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: As more work comes in, I need to delegate the operational side of the business to others so I can focus more

work next year. Peter – Churchtown D 14

– source : LV Insurance ) so, if you have 25 working

counts, so lots of paper work.

two years ago.

pre-school, but she may look for part-time

( from birth to completion of third-level education

nese takeaway

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I set up cheapstorage.ie over

does not work financially, as the children are

you are looking at close to € 1,000,000 to rear them

in business and personally, is that I’m an honest guy, so I really would have no need to.

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: A few, when I was teenager.

annum, am married with four children. My wife

number one asset and with those four children,

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: Doing my month-end ac-

chicken balls.

now as an investment ? I earn € 50,000 per

kids and a … to quote Kenny Rogers. Income is your

Q: What was your first job?

A: A kitchen porter in a ChiQ: And your first pay cheque?

A: Thirty pounds and a bag of

ings of € 40,000. Should I buy another property

A – Let us look at the facts – married, four hungry

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: A footballer.

Q – I have paid off my mortgage and have sav-

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Soccer mainly, started

steen, Tom Petty, Arcade Fire, Johnny Cash and lots of 80’s music.

Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update?

A: A picture I put up of Blar-

watching a bit of MMA recently.

ney Castle on a trip to Cork.

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I currently play for Mount

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Anything without mayon-

do you own?

A: Six. Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: None, I think, but my wife would like me to tidy up more!

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: A number of good friends of ours are getting married this year, so I am looking forward to celebrating with all of them.

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Food poisoning in Thailand, so that wasn’t nice.

If you have not undertaken a budget exercise, call or email me to bring you through the consultation process. See web site for details.

Contact John with your money questions at

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at

Canada and do lots of outdoor activities.

director of Money Doctor

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Professional footballer

band called The National.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: In antique shops.

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Relax and travel with my

Q: Is there anything about

Q: How many pairs of shoes

wife.

Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?

A: Music, and it has to be a

1. Do I need this item of expenditure ?

2. Is there a better or cheaper alternative ?

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: I’d like to travel around

naise, with the company of my family and friends!

Merrion FC.

Only 45% of people in a recent survey stated they had completed an annual household budget exercise. One of the most important chores at the start of any year should be the completion of such budgets. Only when you know what your expenditure is can you plan on the surplus ( or deficit ! ), or even ask those two important questions

www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing

146,000* PEOPLE IN DUBLIN READ OUR PAPERS EACH WEEK

MARK was born in Stillorgan, the youngest in a family of six, and spent most of his early years playing sports, especially football. He attended Oatlands College in Stillorgan and received his third-level qualifications in business and computers.

After college, he developed his sales skills in the telecommunications industry in Dublin and later moved to Sydney, Australia, where he headed up teams of telesales agents.This is where he really began to develop his flair for management and entrepreneurship.

Mark decided to return home to Ireland in 2010 to take over the directorship of his family warehousing business and opportunity arose when two of his units became available. Rather than pursue the route of finding new tenants during the global recession, Mark decided to use these offices and warehouses to start his own business and, from this, cheapstorage.ie was born.

The company has recently expanded into a removals service, which offers customers an extra security knowing that their goods will be handled with care and consideration and, of course, offering that personal touch throughout the entire storage process.

In 2012, Mark plans to expand the business more by offering a service to and from the UK, and also expanding into national wide storage units. In the past two years, Mark and his company have seen exceptional growth during this economic downturn, yet has not compromised his high standards of customer loyalty and service.

BUY PROPERTY NOW ?

*based on standard industry measurements

TO ADVERTISE CALL 60 10 240

22 GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Abbey Travel launch new Over 50s’ brochures ABBEY Travel has just launched two new brochures for the Over 50s’ market for 2012 – Portugal for Over 50s’ and Canary Islands for Over 50s.

In these brochures, you will find great value seven- and 14-night packages to popular hotels in the Algarve, Lisbon Coast, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.

Seven night packages start from €499 per person.

Direct flights and airport transfers, seven- or 14-nights hotel accommodation, B and B basis in Portugal and half board basis in Canary Islands and local representation is all included.

Abbey Travel also offers holidays for Over 50s to popular resorts in Spain, including Costa del Sol, Catalan Coast and Majorca and a range of walking and cycling holidays in their Adventure Holidays for Over 50s’ brochure.

Call Abbey Travel on 01 804 7100 or visit www.abbeytravel.ie for more information.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

Cheer on the boys in green when they take on Croatia at the spectacular Stadion Miejski in vibrant Poznan

Making your UEFA Euro 2012 dreams come true ARE you a diehard soccer fan dreaming of following Ireland to the UEFA Euro 2012 championship? If so, Thompson Sport can make your dreams come true.

As one of two licensed tour operators in Ireland, Thompson Sport are in a great position to guarantee a match ticket. By booking this package, this means you have been assigned a ticket by UEFA and have a guaranteed right to purchase. Once you secure your travel package with Thompson, UEFA will contact you directly to take payment for the face-value of your ticket. This means you’ll be getting your ticket sent direct to your home address from UEFA. Ireland V Croatia

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

You will depart from Dublin for Poznan on Saturday, June 9, the day before the match. Experience the thrill of the build-up to the big match.

Then cheer on the boys in green as they take on Croatia at the spectacular Stadion Miejski in vibrant Poznan.

Stay at the three-star Polonez Hotel from €1,549pp, which is superbly located in the centre of Poznan where you can explore the sights and sounds of everything Poznan has to offer.

Price includes access to a licensed match ticket through UEFA, plus three nights accommodation, return flights from Dublin Airport and all transfers. You will also have the services of a Thomson Sport host with a local representative for the duration of your trip to make sure things run smoothly.

Travel from June 9 to June 12.

Alternatively, stay at the three-star HP Park Hotel from €1,699pp. This hotel is located along the picturesque Malta Lake shore in Poznan, with

an artificial ski slope, cycle track and luge track within walking distance and plenty of outdoor space to explore.

Ireland V Spain

There will be nothing quite like the electric atmosphere in the PGE Arena, where Ireland meet defending European and World Champions Spain. The excitement will begin on your daytime flight from Dublin to Gdansk on Tuesday, June 12. You will have an opportunity on Wednesday to explore all that Gdansk has to offer. Then, on Thursday, enjoy the build-up to the match and also the aftermatch party.

Stay at the three-star Novotel Centrum Hotel from only €1,549pp. The Novotel Centrum Hotel is located in the culturerich Granar y Island region of Gdansk, a short walk from the Old Town.

Travel June 12 to 16.

Or stay at the four-star Mercure Hotel, from only €1,699pp.

The Mercure Hotel is set in the picturesque surroundings of the historic Gdansk Shipyard and other historic monuments.

Ireland V Italy

Trappatoni’s squad are back in the Stadion Miejski to take on the Azzuri. Both teams have a lot to prove after Italy’s 2-0 defeat in the friendly against Ireland last summer. Travel on June 16 and return on June 19.

Stay at the three-star HP Park Hotel, from only €1,699pp or the Polonez Hotel from €1,549pp.

For a 10-night trip and access to all three matches, stay at the three-star Novotel Malta Hotel from only €2,899pp.

Price includes access to a licensed match ticket through UEFA for the matches against Croatia, Spain and Italy, 10 nights

accommodation, return f lights from Dublin Airport and all transfers, including a coach transfer from Poznan to Gdansk for the match against Spain.

You will also have the services of a Thomson Sport host with a local representative for the duration of your trip to make sure things run smoothly, plus some nice little extras. Travel on June 9 and return on June 19.

For more information on the Euro 2012 packages, visit www.thompsonsports.ie or call 01 4331013.

Day trips

Joe Walsh Tours are also giving diehard soccer fans a chance to watch Ireland battle against some of Europe’s top teams.

Joe Walsh Tours have launched their Euro 2012 packages with day trips to each of the group stages

matches in Poland.

So, be there in the flesh to see the boys in green take on Croatia, Spain and Italy in what promises to be a nail-biting experience.

Ireland v Croatia on the June 10, 2012 from only €494 (including tax).

Ireland v Spain on the June 14, 2012 from only €524 (including tax).

Ireland v Italy on the June 18, 2012 from only €494 (including tax).

Offer includes direct return flights from Dublin to Poznan or Gdansk, return airport-stadium transfers in Poland, one small piece of hand luggage per person, the assistance of a Joe Walsh Tours representative throughout the duration of the trip and all airport taxes and charges. Match tickets are not included.

For further information, or to book your Euro 2012 package, visit www. joewalshtours.ie

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

The Giant’s Causeway

Escape to the coast and stay in the charming Ballygally Castle ESCAPE to the coast with a castle retreat and overnight stay for two at the Ballygally Castle, with an evening main course from only £80 per couple.

This enchanting hotel is regarded as one of the most luxurious hotels in Antrim and is full of character and charm, boasting 44 beautiful bedrooms and many of the castle’s original features and antique furnishings, which give the hotel a unique, welcoming atmosphere.

The famous Glens of Antrim and the Giant’s Causeway are located close to the hotel and the superb scenery can be enjoyed from many coastal and glen walks.

To book or for further information, go to www.hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle or call 048 2858 1066 and quote CASTLE RETREAT.

WEDDINGS Trim Castle is a place of legendary beauty

The perfect venue for the perfect day TRIM Castle Hotel, located in the Boyne Valley Region, is steeped in legendary beauty and is the perfect venue for the perfect wedding day.

Every woman dreams of a fairytale experience for their big day, and Trim Castle Hotel is one of the most beautiful and historic locations in Ireland in which to get married.

It sits with quiet authority overlooking the mystical Trim Castle and the adjoining rolling lawns of St Patrick’s Church.

Looking onto the Castle, alight in romantic colour amongst the evening sky, is a breathtaking scene. It brings elegance and charm to an already very special day.

Trim Castle Hotel is a registered venue for civil ceremonies.

The hotel’s Wedding Fair will take place on Sunday, February 19, 2012 from 2-5pm and, is the perfect day to view the venue.

The Great Hall banqueting suite will be fully set for a wedding on the

day and there will be an array of suppliers in attendance.

Modern couples don’t settle for just any venue, and Trim Castle Hotel possesses the old-world charisma of the historical Anglo-Norman castle, and the contemporary standards of magnificent food and stunning decor.

The floor-to-ceiling windows of the Great Hall banqueting suite and wonderful pre-function area allow a view of the castle and church lawns that is unique.

The roof-top garden, located on the third floor, provides the ultimate backdrop for wedding photography, with spectacular views over the grounds of the castle and the surrounding area.

The team aspire to achieving the highest standards of personal and professional attention in the planning and preparation of your special celebration.

All wedding packages offer a number of complimentary features, such

Trim Castle Hotel is located in the breathtaking Boyne Valley Region

as consultancy and planning with one of their experienced wedding coordinators, red carpet and champagne reception for the bridal party and complimentary stay

for the bride and groom in one of the deluxe rooms with champagne breakfast the following morning, For further information, please contact the

hotel’s wedding co-ordinators on 046-9483000 or email info@trimcastlehotel.com. Web: www. trimcastleweddings.com or www.trimcastlehotel. com

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24 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 How Do Actors Play

THIS workshop for children and accompanying adults will see Louis Lovett and Muireann Ahern take you through the actor’s journey on stage, with topics looking at how to take hold of the moment you’re in, how to look forward to the moment coming next and, most importantly, how to look back, presented in the mischievous but educational spirit of play. The workshop is at 10.30am on Saturday, February 11, with tickets priced €8 for children, and €10 for accompanying adults.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 David O’Doherty

LISTING David’s many comedy awards and nominations would fill half this page and so, instead, David is happy to simply list some of his modest achievements, including being the founder member of Destiny’s Child, inventing the iPad, and, most impressively, being the 1990 East Leinster under-14 triple jump bronze medallist. The Irish triple jump legend (and occasional comedy festival-winning comedian) returns to The Mill on Friday, February 10, with tickets for his 8pm show priced at €16.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Alternative Self Portraits

DRAIOCHT has a number of fascinating courses running at the moment, including Genevieve Harden’s alternative selfportraits eight-week course, running on Thursday mornings from 11am to 1pm until Thursday, March 29. Genevieve will guide and encourage students in experimenting and creating alternative self-portraits, drawing on the inner artist’s eye. Priced €80/€65 conc/OAP €40, contact Draiocht at 01 885 2622, or email emer@draiocht.ie

Human Muppet fan, Gary (Jason Segel) teams up with his Muppet brother, Walter (far right) to help make The Muppets famous again, as they join the Swedish Chef, Gonzo, Beaker and Doctor Bunsen Honeydew, Sam, Sweetums, Fozzie and Rizzo for a new, lively, big screen adventure

A fur-ly good film The Muppets return, infused with the spirit of classic Muppet madness, but with a dash of modern humour I KATE CROWLEY

LET history judge me on my solemn decree – The Muppets delivered the definitive version of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, and that’s a fact, Jack.

No, not you, Jack Black – although I’ll get to you, later – but I’m merely tipping my hand at being somewhat kindly predisposed towards The Muppets, in general.

Why, many a night I spent in front of our magnificent, wooden television in the living room, back in 197(cough, cough, no need to start pondering my age, dear readers), watching The Muppets on the small screen, while I also watched their bigscreen excursions in subsequent years.

Despite the premature death of their creator, Jim Henson, the characters have endured – and this is an endear-

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Muppets #### (G) 109 mins Director: James Bobin Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Peter Linz, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, Gonzo, and a cast of thousands

OUR VERDICT: NOT quite up there with the very best of earlier Muppet films, and the long-running classic television show, The Muppets still makes a pleasant return, as behind the occasional schmaltz (and outright mayhem) it’s got something rarely seen these days in family films – heart. So, while it’s not the very best of Muppet madness, it’s still fun to hang out with this raggle-taggle group of characters ...

ing return to form for our furry friends.

But first – the humans.

Gary (Segel) and his girlfriend, Mary (Adams) live in Smalltown, and, as huge Muppet fans, it seems like a great idea for them to head off to LA, to see the legendary Muppet Theatre – with Gary’s Muppet brother, Walter (Linz) in tow.

Unfortunately, the Smalltown trio soon find that the big Muppet stars they grew up with are, effectively, washed-up

nobodies, forgotten by, well, pretty much everybody, while the theatre itself is a wreck.

Not only that, but the theatre’s up for grabs, with a greedy oilman all set to buy and demolish it.

(Ten guesses why, folks.)

Goodness! Is this the ignominious end for T he Muppets?

E r r, no, of

course not.

Gary, Mary and Walter are soon on the case, as a standard round-up-theold-gang plot plays out, with them seeking out all the big Muppet stars of old, determined to stage one helluva show to raise the necessary $10,000,000 needed to buy and save the Muppet theatre (and also, basically, put the Muppets back in the public eye again).

Also of course, things don’t go according to plan, with a certain stunning, headstrong, porcine princess getting her nose out of joint, and refusing to team up with Kermee and co.

But the show must go on, and it’s not long before The Muppets are back in action, with everything going well until – Well, t h a t ’s

enough. Either you’re a fan of those furball goofballs and bug-eyed antics, or you’re not, in which case this is definitely either a one- or a four-star film for you to consider.

It’s not quite up there with classic, vintage Muppet madness of old – but then, without Jim Henson at the helm, those dizzy heights of comic wackiness are unlikely to ever be scaled by The Muppets again.

Still, this film has plenty of heart, and daftness, while the human cast – including Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, and a few other well-known faces as Themselves – provide able support for the inevitable pratfalls, mugging, insults and calamity that come to pass.

To paraphrase The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf – my critic spirit guides for umpteen years – it’s great for The Muppets to be here. (It’s great for them to be anywhere.)

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Tiny titles spark copyright debate

With flagship launch titles such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss offering this level of graphic fidelity, Sony’s PlayStation Vita handheld device (inset) is likely to have lots of gamers reaching for it once it hits the market here

Should be plenty of Vita-lity in this one SHANE DILLON

REMEMBER the PlayStation Portable? The PSP was pretty popular for a while, but never quite set gaming markets alight for a variety of reasons.

I had one, but although I amassed a sizable collection of games, I never had the feeling that it reached its potential, with increasingly lacklustre

support from the gaming industry, and, certainly, the PSP never had anywhere near the kind of “legs” that Nintendo’s DS had.

Step forward Sony’s spiritual successor to the PSP, the VITA, which has been performing reasonably well overseas, with our Japanese friends having the advantage of early access.

As hand-held consoles

go, the Vita is taking an interesting approach, being what one gaming pundit described as “a PSP with bells on”, as in many ways it’s a straightforward evolution of Sony’s earlier piece of kit.

Of course, it’s a handheld console with greatly souped-up power and abilities, compared to its predecessor and, in a nod to modern gaming inter-

Anotherweebyte...

Some X-cellent titles on the way MICROSOFT are about to push out some interesting XBox 360 downloadable titles, with XBox LIVE Arcade House Party! seeing a number of titles hitting the XBox Live Arcade every Wednesday from February 15 until March 7.

And, as an incen-

tive for those who buy all four downloadable titles, Microsoft will give gamers 800 Microsoft Points (MP) in return.

Two titles in particular stand out – Alan Wake’s American Nightmare (February 22, 1200MP), which sees a return to the surprisingly involving survival horror game’s setting, involving a Stephen King-ish writer and the horrors

he finds in Bright Falls’ dense woods. This time, Alan finds trouble in Arizona, and should prove pretty entertaining again.

Later, I Am Alive (March 7, 1200MP) sees a long-delayed game of survival in a destroyed city finally arrive, boasting a strong narrative and an interesting setting – both adding to the XBox party experience.

ests, its “touch-enabled” functions lend it an interesting adaptability to add an extra dimension to games, including its curious rear touch pad.

So, how has the Vita been doing since its recent release, and how do they bode for its upcoming release within our own regional territory?

Well, since hitting the market in Japan in December, the Vita has performed ... okay. Sales figures haven’t been fully disclosed just yet – in fairness, it’s a little too soon to start racking up the figures, ahead of Sony’s quarterly accounts – but all accounts are that its performing solidly, if not spectacularly.

Here, there has been much focus on the impressive power of the console, which Sony have been showcasing to great effect with the Vita spinoff from one of its flagship titles, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

With sales of 350,000

units in Japan during its first week, followed by a tailing-off but solid sales, Sony CFO Masaru Kato has said that the company had “a good start” for hitting 500,000 units within three weeks.

Will Dublin gamers take to the Vita with as much early-adopter enthusiasm as we’ve seen overseas, and which we can expect to see from the Vita’s (expected) release here in late February?

Perhaps, as, despite the recession, gamers and tech-heads still seem to find the money for the latest gadget, and Sony’s Vita certainly lays down quite a challenge for the iPhone generation, many of whom will undoubtedly be looking for something more than just an Angry Birds machine.

Despite the challenging times we live in, it’s good to see progression in the portable gaming market, and the Vita could have plenty of life once it hits its stride.

THERE’S an interesting row simmering away regarding content and intellectual property (IP), and what constitutes a publisher’s title adding to an already established genre, or being, perhaps, more similar than one may expect.

Given the stakes involved with publishing on Apple’s formats, the issues of how strongly IP is defined, and subsequently protected, are beginning to become ever more prominent.

Nimblebit, publisher of Tiny Tower, has been busy exchanging broadsides with Zynga, publisher of Dream Heights, in a continuing case that’s fascinating the gaming industry.

Launched last year, Tiny Tower’s core gameplay mechanics – building a tower block floor by floor, choosing what types of use each floor would be put to, and then filling staff positions, ordering stock, and so on – are now also on show in Dream Heights, which looks ... similar, and shares many of the same core gameplay mechanics, such as the number of employees per floor, stocking systems, express elevators, and so on.

Zynga has rejected any claims of plagiarism, and stuck to its guns that the titles merely resemble each other, and some core details coincidentally match. Still, it’ll be interesting if the renewed industry interest focuses attention on identifying greater ways to define, and then control, IP rights.

GAZETTE

26 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

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9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

JANUARY JOY:

Last month’s 2012 Sports Awards winners are announced: Page 29

SWIMMING: UNIQUE CLUB TAKES MORE HONOURS IN MASTERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

Atlantis rises to the top as Bardi claims records sport@gazettegroup.com

ATLANTIS swimming club celebrated another milestone in their short existence last week when club member Rodrigo Bardi set a new Irish record in the 50m and 100m breastroke in the Masters’ category at the Masters’ Championships in Derry.

It provided another medal in the fledgling club’s history since they formed with just seven

members last autumn, basing themselves in the Markievicz pool on Townsend Street.

Since then, numbers have swelled to 19 but treble those numbers could be accommodated as they are in a unique position as one of the only competitive clubs based in a Dublin City Council pool.

As such, the club is grateful to the Markievicz staff who have allowed them to open the centre at 5am for morning swims

without members having to become leisure club members.

The club was formed in the wake of the change in structure at a leisure centre in Clontarf, which saw club coach Nicky Barker moving on from his management role.

A number of the children he coached there wanted to continue training under the Cabinteely resident, leading to the formation of Atlantis.

And the switch has

Members of the Atlantic Swim Club, with club coach Nicky Barker far right

given him a new lease of life, he told GazetteSport.

“When you are responsible for running a centre and a lot of staff, you can get distracted easily.

While I was there, we had plenty of national champions. Now we can just concentrate on the task at hand.

“Back in January 2011,

we looked for a new facility to train in. We looked at 22 or 23 places around Dublin, but couldn’t find space. The management at the Markieviz were incredibly amenable.”

For him, the philosophy of the club is simple: “If I was to say ‘swim fast and have fun’, it would be plagiarising too many people but, basically, it’s that sim-

ple. The committee have put an awful lot into getting the club organised.”

He brings with him a wealth of experience, working for five years at the Kilternan Sports Hotel. He has also coached a series of national champions like Leo Delaney, William Ensor and Maria Schaler.

The parents are delight-

ed he will be continuing to work with their children: “The consistency is the coach. You can swim in any pool, but it was the coach who was important to us and our children.”

The club currently is looking for new recruits of all ages. For more information, contact Irene Clonan on ireneclonan@ gmail.com.

28 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastGAA

SPORTS AWARDS: LOCAL MOTOR RACING STAR HONOURED with Setanta’s Senan Connell

Learning curve in place for Gilroy’s Dublin DUBLIN manager Pat Gilroy kept his players in the dressing room for quite some time on Saturday night and, having seen the way he went about the game against Kerry, there may well be a part of him that is happy with the way they performed and ultimately lost.

Little indicators, like leaving Diarmuid Connolly on frees and having Alan and Bernard Brogan on the bench for the whole game, would indicate to me that the Kerry game was a great opportunity to try things out, and Pat was happy to do just that.

If this was a league final, or indeed a championship game, Stephen Cluxton would have been on the frees and the two lads above would have played some part.

What will have disappointed him was the manner of the defeat and that is why a few home truths were no doubt spelled out in the dressing room. They have nowhere near the amount of work done that they had at this time in 2010, or 2011, and there are cobwebs. The physicality just was not there.

Dublin are on a pedestal. All-Ireland champions, every team will raise their game to beat them and when Kerry raise their game, you know you’ll be in trouble.

Dublin will find it very difficult on the road to Mayo. I do expect a backlash from the team but going back West to get a result is not easy and I even remember being on the end of one hammering myself as a player. They will need to step it up a gear or two.

Senan Connell is a pundit with Setanta Sports, broadcasting 14 exclusively live Allianz League matches this season.

Setanta Sports Satellite customers can subscribe for just €8.49 per month to get this great GAA plus 33 Premier League games, FA Cup, European soccer and World Class Rugby. Subscribe at Setanta.com/gaaoffer or call 0818 20 30 40.

Gary Thompson accepts his Dublin Sports Award for 2011 from Garrett Marrinan of Clarion Hotels and Gazette Sport editor, Rob Heigh

Gary’s just rewards sport@gazettegroup.com

UP-AND-coming motor-racing star, Gary Thompson, was rewarded for his stellar efforts in 2011 with a Dublin Sports Award at the gala ceremony, held at the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and in front of the cameras of Setanta Sports.

The young Portmarnock driver has been making a name for himself on the east-Asian circuit since he moved there three years ago, and 2011 was a year that saw him achieving a great deal in the sport, including a number of podium finishes in Japanese F3.

GazetteSport caught up with Gar y at the ceremony and spoke about his progress and hopes for the future in

the sport.

“Things have been quiet since November, at the end of my season in Japan, and I have been in Ireland since.

But I have been testing in Japan, for Formula Nippon, which went extremely well, and I was doing some demonstration driving in Abu Dhabi, with F1 drivers Vitalli Petrov and Lucas Degrassi, so I’ve been in good company.”

Part of his progress was the opportunity to race in a Formula Nippon session with his team, KCMG, as a reward for his efforts and achievements throughout the year.

“KCMG have a Formula Nippon team as well as the F3 team I drive with, and as a reward for how well I had done in 2011, they

gave me a chance to test in the Nippon cars,” said Thompson.

“It was an entirely different experience for me, a huge step up. Nippon is a complete professional set-up, and the cars are faster than half of the current F1 grid.

“Driving the cars was quite an experience, and I adapted a lot quicker than I thought I would. They had the regular Nippon driver on the track as well, and he had two hours and I had two hours, and I was faster than him over ten laps, which was quite a shock. Everyone was very happy.

“I’m the youngest person to test Formula Nippon, the youngest before me was 21 or 22, so that was a great achievement to add to everything else that I

achieved in 2011.”

As far as his future plans are concerned, Thompson is very clear about the where and the why of his career in the sport for the time being.

“I think I will be racing one more year at F3 this year, and then Nippon in 2013 is the plan.

“I have a few offers coming through from Europe, but nothing is decided at this stage, though I expect to stay in Asia for the time being.

“The only issue is that the European circuit and F1 is so very expensive. There are drivers in F1 at the moment who are paying about €20 million just to be involved, through sponsors and government backing. You can’t compete with that, and there

are very few drivers who can break through without that kind of backing.

“It’s ver y difficult, but in Japan, I can be assured of a progression from F3 to Nippon, and that is the progression I’m hoping for in 2012.”

Gary with awards host, Setanta Sports’ Paul Dempsey

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 29

in association with

DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS 2011: A CELEBRATION

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS NOVEMBER WINNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

STARof theMONTH

AVA HUTCHINSON THE DSDAC athlete was in sparkling form in Montreal in January to claim the Olympic qualifying standard in the marathon, joining teammate Linda Byrne as one more Dundrum South Dublin athlete competing for a place at London 2012. Her showing in the prestigious event was further proof of the talent pool at the club.

TEAMof theMONTH

SWORDS JUDO CLUB

THE Swords club claimed an incredible nine AllIreland titles at the National schools dojo in Finglas in January, with another victory in the shape of the Nikita Levchenko in the 41kg minor men’s section and Eddie McLoughlin in the junior mens’ 55kg section at NUI Galway last week to underline the quality of the fighters and the coaches at the North Dublin club.

ANOTHER sports awards year over, and a new one just begun!

Time flies when you’re having fun and it was a huge delight to present the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards at the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley last week in the presence of the cameras of Setanta Ireland.

But sport goes on as we know, and we’re delighted to present the first winners of the 2012 awards.

Ava Hutchinson added herself to the roster of impressive athletes from Dundrun South Dublin likely to appear at London 2012 with a qualifying performance in Montreal last month.

Castleknock GAA’s Niall Nulty receiving the team award on behalf of the club with Clarion Hotel’s Garrett Marrinan and GazetteSport editor, Rob Heigh

Dublin’s finest at Gazette celebration sport@gazettegroup.com

THE 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, in conjunction with Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley and Setanta Sports Ireland proved to be the best-ever celebration of the finest in Dublin sports, when the 24 monthly stars and teams named throughout the year were honoured last weekend.

In front of a packed house, compere Paul Dempsey, the esteemed sports journalist and presenter on Setanta, exper tly steered the evening that saw the main awards being presented to Dundr um

South Dublin high-jump expert Deirdre Ryan and the fastest-growing club in Dublin GAA, Castleknock.

Speaking after the event, GazetteSpor t editor, Rob Heigh, said: “Every year, it is a privilege to report on Dublin sport, and to have the opportunity to give something back to the people who make sport in the city so vibrant and diverse is an honour in itself.

“The variety and scope of the awards, that mean we have the chance to honour individuals, clubs, schools and teams across the myriad of

sports in the city, allows us the chance to thank not only the people who recieved the awards, but all of those whose great achievements appear in the sports pages of the eight Gazette newspapers every week of the year.”

The diversity of the event saw representatives of 14 different sports, from underage soccer to senior golf, receiving awards on the stage from the affable Dempsey.

This was the first year that the event was covered by Setanta Sports Ireland, and a pro gramme based on the events of the evening

will go out on the cable channel in the next few weeks.

“We are looking forward to another year of incredible achievement on the sporting calendar,” said Rob Heigh.

“With London 2012 and Euro 2012 on the horizon, as well as the Six Nations just started, it certainly looks like 2012 will be as packed with excitement, drama and Irish success on a local, national, and international stage to look forward to.

“These awards are about the best of our sporting communities, and the best of Dublin.”

Swords Judo Club showed the small-club ethos of grass-roots development with nine titles at the All-Ireland Schools Judo event last month.

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance to be one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesportII. PJ, proud father of Deirdre Ryan

Host Paul Dempsey, of Setanta, with Insaka FC

30 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: SFAI RUN CONTINUES FOR UNITED’S UNDERAGE SIDES

Malahide draw against the head at Seapoint AN UNDER-strength Malahide U-19 side staged a remarkable recovery to snatch a well-deserved draw against league leaders Seapoint at Estuary Road last week.

Having trailed 18-3 at half-time, the home side looked dead and buried, but a penalty from out-half Ben McKiernan levelled the scores with what was the last action of a keenly contested encounter.

Malahide put in a very untypical display in the first half, but as poor as they were, they were absolutely superb in the second period, roaring back against the shell-shocked visitors to claim a share of the spoils.

Seapoint dominated the first half, with Malahide only having a Ben McKiernan penalty to show for their efforts at the break, and turned around 15 points behind.

But the second half was a different story, and right from the outset, Malahide tore into the visitors. First flanker David Morrin got over for a try which brought them back into the game. Then scrum-half Niall Delahunty scored a breakaway try when he outstripped the Seapoint cover from just outside his own 22. Ben McKiernan landed a superb conversion from out on the left touchline to make the scores 18-15 for the visitors.

Malahide drove their advantage home with a superb score when super sub Dylan Potter held a difficult pass to dive over in the corner.

Malahide’s line came under siege with three minutes left, and eventually the pressure told as Seapoint got over to nudge in front for a 23-20 lead.

However, Seapoint gave away a penalty right in front of the posts. The referee signalled that this was the last play of the game, and McKiernan stepped up and confidently popped over the penalty to leave the game tied at the end.

Elsewhere, in the Leinster J4 League Section C, Malahide saw off the challenge of St Mary’s on a dismal day for rugby, with a try from Paul Redmond and a succession of penalties the difference between the sides.

Both sides made great attempts to play good rugby and although there were no further scores, every one enjoyed a great and very exciting game of rugby.

Malahide United’s underage teams have all progressed to the last 16 of the SFAI All-Ireland competitions they are involved in

Malahide’s cups runneth on I sport@gazettegroup.com

THE feel-good factor around Malahide United continued last weekend when all four of their underage sides in the SFAI cup competitions picked up victories to advance to the last 16 on the national stage.

With each competition starting off with an entry list of in excess of 300 sides, it is an incredible achievement for the Gordon Park men, building on the club’s senior side who continue to ride high in three competitions.

Following hot on the

heels of their FAI Intermediate Cup four th r o u n d 3 -1 s u c c e s s against famed Cork side, Douglas Hall, Malahide United followed up with a penalties win against Drogheda United in the Charlie Cahill Cup. And the club can look forward to plenty of big days out on the agenda in the coming weeks following their youth teams’ exploits.

The closest encounter for the young sides was the U-15 Premier side’s 1-1 tie against Galway’s Mervue United, precipitating a penalty shootout in which they held their nerve to run out

WIT and wisdom: Colleges’ camogie contest launched NAOMH Mearnog and DCU player, Laura Twomey, and Mairi Ni Mhuineachain, from Lucan Sarsfields and Trinity College, were on hand last week to help launch the Ashbourne, Purcell and Fr Meachair Cup camogie competitions. The college contests will take place at the Waterford Institute of Technology, who hosted the 2011 Fitzgibbon Cup, on February 18 and 19.

Chairman of CCAO, Shane Darcy said: “The Ashbourne-Purcell weekend is one of the premier events in the camogie calendar with over 400 camogie players taking part.”

4-1 winners.

Next up for them is a trip to Kilkenny to face Evergreen for a place in the quarter-finals, where they are guaranteed to play Dublin opposition with Lucan United and Templeogue the possible rivals.

At U-14 to U-11 level, victory was much more emphatic with 16 goals scored and just one conceded over three games.

The U-14 Premiers p u t Mu l l i n g a r A t h letic to the sword with a comprehensive 6-0 result. Templeogue are next on the list at Gannon Park in a potential

battle royale against a side who won the respective competition two years ago.

But Malahide have plenty of belief off the back of comprehensive wins over Manortown and Home Farm to face into the tie with plenty of belief against the side currently second in their division.

The U-13 Premiers produced a similarly emphatic scoreline as they travelled to Barna Furbo in Galway and came away with a 6-1 victory.

A Dublin derby lies in wait in the last 16 as Mountview Boys make

the trip from Blanchardstown to the seaside for the next round.

T he sides play in the same division as each other but have yet to meet this term with Malahide sixth in the Tony Keyes DDSL Premier division and Mountview ninth in the standings but with a couple of games in hand, making it an even pairing.

Finally, the Malahide U-11s continue their first ever cup run with a big 4-0 success at Clonmel Town.

They will play Belvedere in the next round of the competition.

9 February 2012 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 31

in association with

DUBLIN GAA: SENIOR SIDES RETURN TO LEAGUE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST SYLVESTER’S UNDER-21 C championship semi-

in goal-scoring form putting 4-9 up

final: St Kevin’s V St Sylvester’s in

against Whitehall Colmcille’s 0-2.

Dolphin Park next Saturday, Febru-

The Under-14s lost narrowly to Clon-

ary 11, at 2.30pm.

tarf. The Under-11B team started off

We put in an excellent performance to defe at Set an t a in the

with a win, and there is a real beauty of a photograph on the website.

quarter-final. The other semi-final

The second meeting of the Busi-

sees Naomh Mearnog play Clontarf.

ness and Services Network of St

Please come along and support.

Sylvester’s (BSNSS) takes place

Cup games start for adult football teams next Sunday.

The juvenile AGM was well attend-

next Tuesday at 6.30pm in the club.

Guest speakers on the night are Yanky Fachler and Ron Immink.

ed. Congratulations to Ernie Bren-

On Friday, February 17, the draw

ner and Pat Hoyne on their re-elec-

will take place for the trip to Chel-

tion. Pat has posted an excellent

tenham. Gary O Brien, “the voice of

report on the website.

Ireland” in horse racing will be call-

The Under-16 football team were

ing the winners.

FINGALLIANS

Dublin ladies were in ruthless form against Kildare in their first outing of 2012. Pictures: GAAPics.com

Jackies jubilant on return to Division 1 LADIES’ NFL DIVISION 1 Kildare Dublin

0-6 5-18

I sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGALLIANS Fiona Hudson and Amy McGuinness both played their parts when the Dublin ladies’ footballers got their year off to the perfect start, announcing their return to NFL Division One in serious style.

They helped the side run up an emphatic 27-point victory over a hapless Kildare, to get new manager Peter Clarke’s tenure in the hot-seat off to the perfect start.

From the throw-in, Dublin looked like they meant business, with the Kildare goalkeeper making a fine save after just 40 seconds.

This was a sign of things to come, with Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Aherne netting for the Jackies with two goals in the first eight minutes, along with points from Olivia Leonard and Nata-

lia Hyland to build a lead of 2-4 to no score after 15 minutes.

Kildare, to their credit, fought hard and began to win more possession, but with Siobhan McGrath marshalling a well-organised defence, the Lilywhites only managed a point from their possession before Dublin midfielder Goldrick netted the third goal for the Jackies in the 20th minute.

Points from Aherne, Ciara Murphy and Siobhan Woods, left the score 3-8 to 0-1 in favour of Dublin when referee Pat Kehoe blew for half-time.

Kildare started the second half brightly, kicking the first score of the half and began to settle into the game.

Dublin, however, driven from midfield by the elusive Goldrick, rallied again, with points from McEvoy, Hyland and Woods.

Kildare never gave up and kicked four points,

but goals from Leonard and Aherne polished off a fine performance from Dublin, which gets their campaign of to a great start.

Next up, they travel to play in Meath next Sunday.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Kilmacud Crokes’ Craig Dias made his senior competitive debut but there was to be no repeat of the Dubs’ victory of last September as they fell 1-14 to 0-11 to Kerry in Croke Park.

The Kingdom dominated the second half of the first round of the Allianz NFL Division 1 clash on Saturday night to give them the spoils over a lacklustre Dublin.

Darran O’Sullivan netted the killer goal 15 minutes from time after top-class build-up play to extend his side’s lead to five points.

It was a rusty start for the Dubs who might have been further down in the final tally had Kerry con-

verted some of their 17 wides.

Early on, Kevin McManamon’s point made it five points each in the 20th minute and the lead was taken when Stephen Cluxton’s ’45 and another effort from Mossie Quinn made it 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

But Kerry bossed the second half and Dublin’s cause was also not helped by the sending off of Eamon Fennell in the 67th minutes as the home side’s challenge petered out before the finish.

Dublin face Mayo this Saturday night in Castlebar in their next outing.

THE car draw is in its final month.

sentatives for the GAA talent com-

There will be an updated progress

petition, Scor na bpaisti. It will be

table again this week on email and

held at St Peregrine’s GAA club on

also in the club bar. Members are

Saturday, February 25. The catego-

asked to submitted their sold tick-

ries include Ceile dance, solo singing,

ets as soon as possible.

instrumental music, ballad group,

Unfortunately, Padraig Durkan,

storytelling, novelty act, team quiz

our current GPO will be leaving us.

and set dancing. Contact Liam on

Padraig recently applied and was

086 381 4422 for further informa-

successful in being accepted for the

tion.

primary school teacher training

The club will again take part in the

course. Our loss is the children of

Swords St Patrick’s Day Parade on

Ireland’s gain. We would like to wish

March 17.

Padraig the very best and thank him

Sarah Murray collected gold at of

for all his great work over the last

the Leinster Indoor Championships

few years.

at Nenagh, Co Tipperary, last Sun-

Fingallians are looking for repre-

day.

ST FINIAN’S THE 2012 season commenced with

Well done to our U-10 camogie teams

matches for our U-12, U-14 and U-16

who achieved their first victories at

footballers. The U12s were the only

Gormanston yesterday scoring ten

team to record a win but the U-16s

goals and three goals respectively.

did start with a draw.

Our U-12 camogie team also recorded

Camogie section registration day takes place next Saturday, Febru-

a good wins at the Gormanston indoor tournament on Sunday.

ary 11, at 2pm in the club house. All

Yes, it’s true, the Kerry senior foot-

parents and players are invited to

ballers did have a pre-match training

attend. Please remember to bring

session on our pitch in Nevinstown on

your membership forms. Light

Saturday. The players needed a pitch

refreshments will be served. Men-

to do a bit of stretching and kicking.

tors will be on hand to answer any

Many thanks to all the lads who signed

questions.

autographs and posed for pictures.

LOCAL TEAM WIN? WE WANT TO KNOW! YOUR LOCAL PAPER FOR LOCAL SPORTS Call our SPORTS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email sport@gazettegroup.com

32 MALAHIDE GAZETTE 9 February 2012